Payback Time for MasterCard in WikiLeaks Cyber-Clash

Posted on Dec 8, 2010

A group of hackers organized under the familiar moniker of Anonymous (remember those anti-Scientology demonstrations?) has registered its collective disapproval of MasterCard and the Swedish prosecution authority for participating in the censure of WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange by, fittingly, compromising the functionality of their websites. —KA

The Guardian:

The websites of the international credit card MasterCard and the Swedish prosecution authority are among the latest to be taken offline in the escalating technological battle over WikiLeaks, web censorship and perceived political pressure.

Co-ordinated attacks by online activists who support the site and its founder Julian Assange – who is in UK custody accused of raping two Swedish women – have seen the websites of the alleged victims’ Swedish lawyer disabled, while commercial and political targets have also been subject to attack by a loose coalition of global hackers.

The Swedish prosecution authority has confirmed its website was attacked last night and this morning. MasterCard was partially paralysed today in revenge for the payment network’s decision to cease taking donations to WikiLeaks.